TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 20 Arizona State baseball team (24-11) was defeated by the Antelopes of Grand Canyon University (23-8) 11-8 last night in front of 2,479 fans at Packard Stadium.

Picking up the win for the Antelopes was starter Mike Torres (4-1) who gave up five runs on six hits, with two walks and one strikeout. J.J. Rafferty earned his first save of the season, after allowing only one run on one hit with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched.

Sun Devil starter Eric Doble took the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits, with two strikeouts in three inning pitched. With the loss, Doble falls to 0-1 on the season.

Grand Canyon scored first, picking up three runs in the third inning. The Antelopes would pick up another four runs in the fourth after leftfielder Ben Menke and firstbaseman Buddy Critchett led off the inning with back-to-back singles to center. ASU's Charlie Williamson would come to pitch in relief, striking out the first two batters he faced.

Williamson ran into trouble, giving up three consecutive hits and allowing two runs to score before Ted Chmielinski would relieve him to get the third out of the inning.

Arizona State would get one run in the fourth inning but the Antelopes held a 9-1 lead through six innings. ASU would rally with six runs on six hits in their half of the seventh. The Sun Devils tallied one more run in eighth inning after shortstop Willie Bloomquist hit a solo shot over the left field wall. The home run was Bloomquist's third of the season. Trailing 9-8 going into the ninth, the Devils would allow two more Antelope runs, and went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.

Third baseman Blake Woods led Grand Canyon, going 3-for-5 with four RBI. Shortstop Mike Laird also contributed with his 2-for-2 performance and two runs scored.

For the Sun Devils, Bloomquist finished the night 3-for-5 with three RBI, and two runs scored. Designated hitter Casey Myers went 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored.

ASU opens home conference play with a three-game series against California this weekend, beginning Friday night at 7 p.m. at Packard Stadium. For ticket information call 965-2381.